One member of the Thunder Bay police board has been removed by the province and the mayor is facing calls to resign from that body for playing down the impact of racism in the city in the wake of official reports identifying widespread discrimination against Indigenous people.
Two years ago, Mr. Cyr called Ms. Beyak’s position on residential schools “balanced and thoughtful,” although in an interview this week, he denounced the content of the letters on her website. In an interview Tuesday, police services board chair Celina Reitberger also called for the mayor’s departure from the board. She cited a conflict of interest involving his brother, Jim Mauro, former head of the Thunder Bay police association, who in 2006 placed a prank 911 call in which he impersonated a First Nations woman, leading to his four-day suspension from the force.
Through a spokesperson, Mr. Mauro declined to be interviewed, but said in a statement: “I acknowledge that there are a large number of people whose experience in Thunder Bay is not a good one. I am 6 months or so into my term, and I will continue to work hard to make our City a better place for all citizens."
That report triggered the appointment of an administrator to temporarily carry out the board’s functions, and its reconstitution with a combination of old and new members, all of whom were required to take cultural-sensitivity training.
He’s the wrong person for mayor.
Nooo. Let the mayor keep their poor body, at least.